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The pros and cons of various primary source verification methods

Credentialing & Verification Update, June 6, 2007

Medical staff professionals (MSPs) use various modes of communication-including telephone, fax, mail, the Internet, and e-mail-to obtain necessary primary source verifications for applicants. Because some modes are more advantageous than others in certain circumstances, MSPs should remember to use all resources at their disposal.

Below, we outline advantages and disadvantages of each common mode of verification. The mode(s) your hospital chooses will depend on its facilities and any rules, regulations, and laws regarding the information requested.

• Telephone

  Pros: It's quick, easy, and often free of charge

  Cons: It provides no written evidence of verification (a contemporaneous note is recommended); some offices are difficult to reach (phone's always busy, hours are incompatible with your MSO, etc.)

• Mail/written

  Pros: It provides written evidence of verification

  Cons: Mail can be slow and cause a longer turnaround time; stamps and paper can be costly; it is time consuming to write a letter for each request (or group of requests); many offices charge for written verifications, especially those that have official seals embossed or printed

• Internet/Web

  Pros: It's quick, easy, and often free of charge

  Cons: Some sites are not guaranteed to contain current information and thus may be unreliable; some MSOs do not have Internet access and/or the equipment required for online access

• E-mail

  Pros: Information is accurate and current; it's quick, easy, and often inexpensive or free of charge

  Cons: Some MSOs do not have access to e-mail

Editor's note: Many MSOs still rely on time-consuming Web searches or calls to hospitals' main switchboards to locate the office that can primary source verify practitioners' data. Meanwhile, subscribers to CPDR simply log on to the CPDR Web site daily to directly reach more than 1,000 hospital medical staff credentialing offices, over 500 nursing schools, roughly 300 medical schools, and more. We continue to add more listings every quarter. If you aren't a CPDR subscriber, please accept my invitation to sign up for a free 30-day trial. Click here.

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